Embassy of in the of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ______

No. 4/ 4th Year 16th of February – 1st of March 2011

Politics • The visit of President Băsescu to Kuweit • ForMin Teodor Baconschi is paying a visit to Israel and Palestinian National Authority • Minister Teodor Baconschi met with Jean-Claude Mignon, head of ’s delegation • to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly • Macedonian ForMin, Antonio Milososki, signed in a Memorandum of cooperation in the European and Euro-Atlantic integration field • The official opening in Edinburgh of a Consular Office of the Embassy of Romania • Joint statement adopted by Romanian and Bulgarian Parliaments • Romania, Visegrad Group campaigning for deepening Eastern Partnership • Romania Continues Efforts To Evacuate Its Citizens From Libya

Economics • PM : List of public-private partnership projects completed by 1 March • Romania’s tourism will be promoted on the internet • Romania May Rethink Entire Energy Strategy • Record 100-million-euro bio product exports for Romania in 2010 • E.ON Energy Romania - integrated natural gas and electricity supplier • Maritime cooperation protocol between Romania and Turkey • Romania and Turkey may cooperate in IT field • Rockefeller Group plans to invest over 100 million euro in the real estate market in the region including Romania • Economy Ministry: Romania Government to privatize Oltchim next year

Culture and Education • Service of installation for the Vice-Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University • Politics of Memory in Post-Communist Europe • Bestowal of the Order "Military Virtue" to Scottish fireman • Photography exhibition “From East to West: A Portrait of Romanian Diaspora” • Opening of Rita Horowitz water painting exhibition • Annual meeting of the Romanian health care professionals working in the UK • Ion Grigorescu @ Tate Modern • Gazes and Faces: Romanian Portraits • Culture Power/ Culture, Modernity and Extremism • Sighisoara reaches final stage of Europe Prize

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Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ______

• Politics The visit of President Băsescu to Kuweit The Arab states in the Gulf region represent a priority for the foreign policy of Romania, the main objective being the increase of our country’s visibility in the area and the business people’ s interest for Romania, stated President Traian Basescu during his visit to Kuweit. According to a press release of the Presidential Administration, on the occasion of the visit to Kuweit, President Basescu had talks with Sheik Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah, the emir of Kuweit, occasion on which the head of state « presented Romania’s interest to the consolidation and development of bilateral cooperation in the domains of mutual interest, especially th economic one ». « According to what was stated by President Traian Basescu, the Arab states in the Gulf region represent a priority for the foreign policy of Romania, the main objective being the increase of our country’s visibility in the area and the interest of the business people community to the opportunities for investment offered by our country. They were presented the opportunities of cooperation in the domain : energy, industry, agriculture and tourism », the source said. In th same context, the head of state announced the organisation in Bucharest, between 8-9 March 2011 of the Economic Forum for Cooperation in the Gulf – Romania : business opportunities in Central and South-Eastern Europe. This initiative is part of Romania’s strategy to ensure the Romanian presence in the member states of CCD and draw investments from these countries, according to the press release. At the same time, the two heads of state discussed the topic of the recent evolutions on the political stage in North Africa and Middle East, exchanging opinions with regard to the meaning of the people’s movement in the region and the impact of political evolution on the perspective of peace process. President Traian Basescu had a meeting with Sheik Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, prime minister of Kuweit. According to the presidential administration, the talks offered the occasion of an analysis of the projects started on the occasion of the official visit of President Basescu to Kuweit in 2008. At the same time, the Kuweit prime minister expressed his appreciation for Romania’s initiative to organise the Economic Forum in Bucharest, in partnership with the Council for Cooperation of the Gulf, confirming Kuweit’s interest for the event. « The same appreciation for Romania’s initiative, regarding the organisation of the Economic Forum was expressed by other heads of delegation, present in Kuweit, with whom the Romanian head of state had talks » the press release shows. President Traian Basescu took part between 25-26 February to the manifestations organised in Kuweit on the occasion of 50 years celebration since the independence of this state and 20 years since the liberation from under Iraqi occupation. (ActMedia, 28 February 2011)

ForMin Teodor Baconschi is paying a visit to Israel and Palestinian National Authority Romanian Foreign Minister Baconschi started a visit to Israel on February 28; a visit to the Palestinian National Authority is on Minister Baconschi's agenda on March 1, informed Foreign Ministry spokesperson Doris Mircea. The visit to the State of Israel takes place at the initiative of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The Romanian chief diplomat will be received by President of Israel, Shimon Peres, and will hold talks with his Israeli counterpart, as well as with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Policy Committee Shaul Mofaz, and the with opposition leader Tzipi Livni.

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Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ______

On the same occasion, Minister Teodor Baconschi will visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum, where he will lay a wreath; the Romanian ForMin will also meet with representatives of the local community of Romania-born citizens and with high-profile members of the local business environment. The talks with the high Israeli officials will provide an opportunity of assessing the stage of bilateral relations and explore ways to strengthen such ties in areas of mutual interest. The sides will also exchange opinions on developments in North Africa and the Middle East, the Foreign Ministry official pointed out. The agenda of the Foreign Minister's visit to Ramallah - the administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority - includes a meeting with Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and of the National Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, with Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Government Salam Fayyad, and with his Palestinian counterpart Riad Al-Malki, said the cited source. Talks with the high Palestinian officials will focus on the prospects of bilateral cooperation, especially on economic ground, the possibilities for Romania to contribute to the construction of Palestinian institutions, as well as on recent developments in North Africa and the Middle East. (ActMedia, 28 February 2011)

Minister Teodor Baconschi met with Jean-Claude Mignon, head of France’s delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Press release, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania 02/22/2011 Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Baconschi received, on 22 February 2011, a group of French parliamentarians, headed by Jean-Claude Mignon, chief of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The visit takes place at the invitation of the head of the Romanian parliamentary delegation to PACE, deputy Cezar Preda, and falls in the context of parliamentary diplomacy demarches in support of Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area. The Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted the need for direct, open political dialogue between Romania and France, with a view to overcoming the current difficulties, and showed Romania was prepared to join the Schengen Area, as confirmed by all the evaluation missions. “We need a clear perspective and we are ready to respond to all specific concerns of the French partners,” Minister Baconschi stated. Moreover, the Minister said security was a priority to Romania, this country being as capable as the other Member States to ensure it at the highest standards. Major investment in securing the Union’s external border and the cutting-edge technology used are arguments to this effect. Speaking of Roma social integration, Minister Baconschi emphasized the full awareness of the responsibility incumbent on the Romanian authorities. Against this background, he specified Romania wanted an approach geared to identifying solutions and tangible measures to support the Romanian citizens in distress in the territory of the French state.

Macedonian ForMin, Antonio Milososki, signed in Bucharest a Memorandum of cooperation in the European and Euro-Atlantic integration field The Republic of Macedonia makes very constructive efforts to ensure the best possible inter-ethnic climate and the Wallachian minority, of about 150,000, has received assurances that its members will enjoy access to education in their language, as well as to religious services in their native language, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Baconschi stated on 23 February, after meeting his counterpart from Skopje, Antonio Milososki. 'As well, we agreed to do an inventory related to property restitution to this minority in the Republic of Macedonia', emphasized Minister Baconschi, adding that Romania will continue to act for the finalization of the EU and NATO enlargement with the countries of Western Balkans. In turn, the Republic of Macedonia official said that his country is the first in the region in terms of the level of protection for minority rights. Of all countries in the region, Macedonia is the one where protection of minority

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Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ______rights reached the highest level and attempts are made to keep the Wallachian community culture, tradition and language intact. 'Romania serves as a very good example as for the representation of minorities at all levels, including in Romania's Parliament, and exactly that is the reason why the Republic of Macedonia supports Romania's membership in the UN Human Rights Committee', the international body Macedonia hopes to be able to sit in the period 2013-2016. At the same time, Minister Baconschi underlined that Romania further backs up a flexible and constructive dialogue under the UN aegis between Skopje and Athens on the issue of the official name of the Republic of Macedonia. 'We are convinced that both sides will show enough political wisdom to overcome this issue,' Minister Baconschi also said. On the other hand, Minister Milososki pointed out that his government hopes to resolve this dispute with Greece as quickly as possible, but without threatening his nation's identity. 'Macedonia is prepared to continue negotiations with Greece under the UN patronage, so that the power of argument prevails and not the arguments are dominated by power. We would like Athens to demonstrate a more European behavior as our country's name and national symbols are concerned. As in Romania there a region of Moldova, but there is also a country named Moldova, the same we would like that our neighbors do not transform this situation into a disputed case', the Republic of Macedonia official underscored, adding that Skopje would like to see Athens acknowledging the minorities rights by observing the same standard as in the Republic of Macedonia, including those of the Wallachian-Macedo-Romanian minority. The two officials have signed on this occasion a Memorandum of cooperation in the European and Euro-Atlantic integration field between the two Foreign Ministries and a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Romanian Diplomatic Institute of the Romanian MAE and the Directorate of the MAE Diplomatic Academy of the Republic of Macedonia. (ActMedia, 24 February 2011)

The official opening in Edinburgh of a Consular Office of the Embassy of Romania Embassy of Romania – London/ Between February 20-22, 2011, the Ambassador of Romania in the United Kingdom, Dr Ion Jinga, made an official visit to for the official opening in Edinburgh of the Consular Office of the Embassy of Romania. The Ambassador had meetings with the Romanian communities in Glasgow and Edinburgh, with high officials of the Scottish government, local authorities, business, academic and cultural representatives, Scottish and Romanian language media. The official opening ceremony of the Consular Office of the Embassy of Romania was hosted by the Edinburgh City Chambers. On February 20, 2011, the Ambassador of Romania visited the Romanian community, at the Romanian Orthodox Parish “Presentation of our Lord” in Glasgow, passing a message of encouragement and support to the Romanians living in Glasgow, whose community increased in number, mostly, round the Orthodox Parish of Father Marcel Oprisan. The Ambassador met with John Clenaghan, top Scottish fireman expert, who was bestowed recently by the Mr Traian Băsescu with the Order "Military Virtue" in the rank of Knight, in recognition of his efforts for the modernisation of the Romanian Fire Service and of the Mobile Service for Emergencies, Resusc itations and Rescue, known throughout Romania under the more familiar acronym of “SMURD”, had talks with Rev Adah Young of the Scottish Church in Shettleston which is hosting the religious services of the Romanian Parish and visited the Romanian Library the recently opened and with a collection of 400 books.

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Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ______

During the evening, the Ambassador of Romania in the United Kingdom met with the Romanians living in Edinburgh and same of the 120 Romanian students enrolled at the prestigious university of the capital of Scotland . At these two meetings with the Romanian communities in Edinburgh and Glasgow, were present over 250 participants. On February 21, 2011, the Ambassador had meetings with Jenny Dawe, the Leader of Edinburgh City Council, the Right Rev John Christie, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, as well as with the spiritual leaders of the Scotland, and Roman Catholic Churches . At these meetings, the Ambassador of Romania was accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Southern and Western Europe. The discussions tackled a number of important topics including the establishment of a Romanian Orthodox Parish in Edinburgh . Both, the representatives of the leadership of the local administration in Edinburgh and of the religious faiths in Scotland promised their support for the in finding the most suitable solution and in fulfilling the necessary procedures. The Ambassador Ion Jinga and the Head of the Consular Office in Edinburgh, Mihai Delcea, had talks with a delegation of the Chambers of Commerce of Edinburgh, led by the Chief Executive of the Chambers, Ron Hewitt. The subjects related to the enhancement of bilateral cooperation, touristic exchanges and possibilities of establishing direct air links between Scotland and Romania . The Chief executive of the Chambers of Commerce of Edinburgh underlined the importance of having a representative of Romania at the Scottish Low Carbon Conference, due to take place in September 2011, in Edinburgh . During the afternoon, the Ambassador paid a visit to Mrs Mona Shea, spouse of the former Honorary Consul of Romania in Edinburgh , Martin Shea who was, for over 10 years, the Press Secretary of Her Majesty, Queen Elisabeth II, being subsequently engaged as a diplomat of the UK Embassy in Bucharest . Martin Shea was also a successful writer (under the pen name of Martin Sinclair), author of 26 books, one of them, The Dollar Pact, being translated into Romanian. During the evening of the same day, the Ambassador of Romania was present at the Reception dedicated to the official opening of in Edinburgh of the Consular Office of the Embassy of Romania. The event was attended by over 240 participants, between them local authorities, business, academic and cultural representatives, members of Consular corps in Edinburgh and of the Romanian community living in the region, local and Romanian press. On this occasion, the Ambassador Ion Jinga, Jenny Dawe, the Leader of Edinburgh City Council, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Southern and Western Europe and Dr Mihai Delcea, Head of the Consular Office of the Embassy of Romania, delivered short speeches. The guests at the Reception could also admire the photography exhibition entitled “ Romania – The Shapes of Light”. The evening was organized in partnership with the City Chambers, at its venue renowned for its fascinating historical past. On February 22, 2011, the Ambassador of Romania met with the First Minister of Scotland Rt Hon Alex Salmond, and with the Minister for External Affairs and Culture Ms Fiona Hyslop. Discussions with the two Scottish officials revealed potential areas of cooperation such as economy, tourism, culture and education. The Ambassador presented a list of 70 investment projects in electric energy, oil, gas, transport infrastructure, tourism, leisure and environment protection, inviting the Scottish business to participate in such projects upon their chosen field of interest.

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Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ______

The Scottish interlocutors appreciated the initiative of the Romanian Ministry for Foreign Affairs of opening in Edinburgh a Consular Office of the Embassy of Romania. They expressed their trust that the Consular Office will continue the dialogue and will support the initiatives convened during the Ambassador’s visits in Scotland in June 2010 and February 2011. There were appreciated, also, the efforts of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Southern and Western Europe towards the opening of a Romanian church in Edinburgh, promoting the ecumenical tourism and the religious culture and arts. At these meetings, the Ambassador of Romania was accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph. The programme of the official visit in Scotland of the Ambassador of Romania in the United Kingdom included, as well, meetings with the Chief Constable of Lothian& Borders Police David Strang, the Principal of the University of Edinburgh, Sir Timothy O’ Shea, professors and heads of departments of the university, Governor of the Edinburgh Castle (Regimental Headquarters and museum covering the Scottish military history; between the distinctions and medals received in time by the Scottish officers, there are also decorations bestowed by the Romanian Royal House). The Chief Constable of Lothian & Borders Police underlined the successful integration of the Romanian citizens into their host society and the low level of criminality. The visit took place under the sign of continuity, pragmatism and common interest in the specific fields of cooperation under the competence of the Embassy of Romania and of the Scottish authorities. The meeting with the leadership of the University of Edinburgh resulted in laudatory assessments for both, Romanian professors and researchers, and Romanian students, underlining their contribution in identifying new fields of cooperation with universities and researchers from Romania, such as informatics, medicine and European studies. The Romanian students are considered between the most competitive. About 120 Romanian students are at the University of Edinburgh , one third of them being enrolled on Informatics and Mathematics programmes. The visit of the Ambassador concluded with his participation, as guest of the Prime Minister, at the Edinburgh Consular Corps Annual Reception. In his remarks, First Minister Alex Salmond stressed the importance of the Romanian presence in Scotland and the perspectives of a future economic, cultural and academic cooperation, as convened during the talks with Ambassador of Romania. Consular Office in Edinburgh Address: 7/9 North St. David Street, Edinburgh , EH2 1AW Phone: +44 (0) 131 524 9498 Fax: +44 (0) 131 524 94 99 Email: [email protected] Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday and Friday 09.00 – 13.00 hrs Wednesday 09.00 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 18.00 hrs Appointment by phone, fax, email at [email protected] , or directly at the Consular Office.

Joint statement adopted by Romanian and Bulgarian Parliaments The foreign policy committees of the parliaments of Bulgaria and Romania issued on 16 February a joint declaration on the readiness of the two Balkan countries to join the borderless Schengen Area. The Foreign Policy and Defense Committee of the Bulgarian Parliament and the Foreign Policy Committee of the Romanian legislature held a joint sitting in the Bulgarian Danube city of Russe. The joint declaration that they adopted declared the two countries' readiness and political will for Schengen accession. The declaration comes at a time when it is almost certain

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Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ______that Bulgaria and Romania will not be admitted to Schengen at the original deadline of March 2011. The specific reason for that is certain border control issues that Bulgaria has along its Turkish border but in the wider context key EU member state such as France and Germany have declared their opposition to letting the Balkan states to join the Schengen agreement for the time being. They have demanded that their accession be made conditional on their progress on corruption, organized crime, and judicial reform – areas monitored by the EC under a different mechanism. In their declaration, the Bulgarian and Romanian MPs stated the desire of the two countries not to be decoupled for Schengen. Even though decoupling has a remote possibility because it would mean that if either one joins first, it will have to invest in securing the joint border, it has not been ruled out altogether by EU and member states officials. Chairman of the foreign policy commission in the Chamber of Deputies Attila Korodi and the Bulgarian official present when this statement was made, Dobroslav Dilianov Dimitrov, stressed that Romania and Bulgaria took great strides in meeting the technical joining criteria.They expressed their belief that a new chapter would be written about both countries' efforts to join the Schengen space. The meeting took place in Ruse, Bulgaria, and moved to Giurgiu, where among the guests were Romanian and Bulgarian MPs, local authorities in both Giurgiu and Ruse and Hungarian Ambassador in Bucharest Oszkar Fuzes. (ActMedia, 17 February 2011)

Romania, Visegrad Group campaigning for deepening Eastern Partnership The success of the European Union's Eastern Partnership will depend on the support of all the EU member states and the countries it targets should use this instrument of the European Neighbourhood Policy to advance reforms that will bring the countries closer to the EU, representatives of the V4 Visegrad Group - the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, and representatives of Romania said on 16 February at an international conference in Bucharest. The conference, called the 'Contribution of the Visegrad Countries and Romania to the Eastern Dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy,' organised by the Representation of the European Commission in Romania and the Embassy of Slovakia, is seen as an opportunity to reaffirm support of these countries for the Eastern Partnership, which was established in May 2009 in order to strengthen this dimension and in reaction to the French initiative to create a Union for the Mediterranean. In the opening speech, State Secretary with the Romanian Foreign Ministry underscored the timely holding of the conference, just one day after the Visegrad Group celebrated its 20th anniversary and at a time when the European Union rotating presidency is held by Hungary, which will pass it on to Poland, another member of the V4 group. Romania is a genuine partner of the V4 group, with which it shares common visions, said Aurescu, assuring that by its support Romania is promoting the position of the Eastern Partnership within the EU. He also mentioned the establishment in February 2008 of the Back Sea Synergy, an EU initiative for regional cooperation, saying this was complementing the Eastern Partnership. The competition or the complementariness between the Eastern Partnership, as part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, and the Black Sea Synergy, another EU initiative, was the subject dealt with by Stefan Tinca, managing director with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the conference on the 'Contribution of the Visegrad States and of Romania to the Eastern Dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy' that was held in Bucharest. Romania has two complex neighbourhoods, the Western Balkans and the eastern neighbourhood, this latter one being a priority of Bucharest's foreign policy, said Stefan Tinca. Romania's support to the Eastern Partnership states materializes, among other things, in promoting the free market, in making it easier to get visas and in quickly coming to remove them (especially for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine), said Tinca. The contribution Bucharest makes to the eastern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy is also clear

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Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ______in the involvement in the Black Sea Synergy, a very useful instrument of the EU policy in the region, said the Romanian diplomat, according to whom the two overlap, but are also complementary. The Eastern Partnership gave a political impetus to concluding some association agreements and some agreements on visas, also added the Romanian official. In his opinion the problems of the Eastern Partnership come from the absence of a common ground between the six partner states (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine) as well as from the fact that some community countries are not concerned with the southern neighbourhood and others with the eastern one, a situation that should come to an end. The final part of the conference was devoted to a round-table discussion in which ambassadors of some states that are partners of the EU in the Eastern Partnership presented the assessments made by their own countries of this cooperation mechanism. (ActMedia, 17 February 2011)

Romania Continues Efforts To Evacuate Its Citizens From Libya Sixty-nine more evacuees from Libya - 45 Romanian nationals and 24 foreigners - arrived in Romania on 28 February, aboard a C-130 Hercules airplane of the Romanian National Defence Ministry (MApN), MApN reports. The C-130 Hercules military carrier took off on 27 February from the Tripoli Airport for Romania. Since early this week, C-130 Hercules and Spartan C-27 aircraft of the MApN have flown to Romania over 150 Romanian and foreign nationals. A C-27 J Spartan military airplane, on its second mission, landed on 27 February 18:00hrs, local, in Malta, where it is ready to take off any time an emergency arises, in accordance with the flight demands from MApN and the Romanian Foreign Ministry. Romanian Defence Minister has ordered the MApN task force to take all the necessary measures so that all the Romanian nationals requesting repatriation may be safely evacuated. Following the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in order to help the European nationals in Libya, in the spirit of solidarity and mutual support, Minister Oprea ordered that nationals of other EU member states be allowed access to the MApN evacuation flights, besides the Romanian nationals. On February 23, the Romanian Government approved a decision concerning special measures as a result of the crisis and humanitarian emergency in Libya. The Government earmarked RON 900,000 from its reserves for covering the costs incurred by transport and consular assistance entailed by the evacuation of the people affected by the state of instability in Libya. (ActMedia, 28 February 2011)

• Economics PM Emil Boc: List of public-private partnership projects completed by 1 March The government already has a preliminary list of projects within the public-private partnership. The list will be completed by 1 March and then will be presented to the domestic and international business circles to attract investors, Premier Emil Boc declared on 16 February 2011 at the press conference held at the end of the Executive meeting. The premier pointed out that there were projects in the field of transports for building highways, the construction of new emergency hospitals and building hydropower plants, next to other strategic objectives for Romania. Premier Boc also mentioned the projects were of national interest . Local authorities have to identify projects which could be completed in a public-private partnership.A week ago the premier had requested the ministers to present the list of projects which could be completed through the public private partnership. Prime Minister Boc reminded that the list should include a series of projects in infrastructure, in the field of transports, health, agriculture and environment. “accent should be laid on transports which means resuming partnerships for Comarnic-Brasov section or the new Sibiu-Pitesti section, which has not been covered in corridor I, and also on the Ministry of Regional Development, the Ministry

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Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ______of Environment, of Health, Agriculture and Energy. These are field which could be the object of the law on private-public partnership”, the premier showed. President Traian Basescu promulgated the law of public-private partnership on 30 September 2010, which stipulates the way in which public-private partnership is carried out for the design , financing construction modernization, operation, maintenance, development and transfer of public goods or services. (ActMedia, 18 February 2011)

Romania’s tourism will be promoted on the internet Romania’s tourism will be promoted through a national marketing plan, Tourism and Development Minister Udrea said. Romania will benefit from a professional promotion plan, with clear objectives that will identify main targets and when it is best to approached them, she explained. The plan indicates that Romania needs more online promotion which has never been done before. Foreigners choosing Romanian hotels prefer Bucharest, Transylvania and the South East region. Those preferring hostels or rural accommodations opt for Transylvania and Moldova. Hungarians are the most numerous group of tourists, followed by Moldovans, Ukrainians and Bulgarians. According to official reports, in 2009 we were visited by a citizen from Malta, one from Luxembourg and by four Egyptians. Even though an intensive marketing strategy is welcomed, it remains to be seen how will the ministry implement it. How foreigners will be lured into visiting Moldova, North Romania or Central Romania considering that these are most visited by most foreigners? Contrary to foreigners, Romanians prefer the Danube Delta or the seaside to the mountainside . Therefore, the ministry has two options: it can either promote more offers in the South East area at the seaside or it can attempt to increase the number of foreign tourists preferring the mountainous area. Another important consideration is the target: we want to attract tourists from China or Switzerland? Middle income or premium? Quality tourism, for those with money presumes infrastructure. However, there still are places that are hard to reach even by bike. There are plenty of areas in Romania that lack visibility abroad and have plenty of locations that could well attract foreigners for their historical importance and beauty. It is clear that what Romania’s tourism needs is infrastructure and clear objectives, not eloquently expressed ambitions. The other element to this equation is Romania’s competitors which do not leave our country in a good position compared to its neighbors as we lack infrastructure, we cash in less money than our neighbors do and perspectives are not good either. According to the World Bank, that notes the quality of infrastructure from a scale of 1 – the worst- to 7 – the best-, Romania was given a 3. In other words, very close to 1. Another aspect, if we look at revenues obtained from foreign tourism: foreign tourists arrivals in December 2010 totaled 387.8 thousands of people, a 8.9% increase compared to December 2009. Romanian tourists totaled in December 2010 81.7% of the total number of arrivals and foreign tourists represented 18.3%. Hotel arrivals in December 2010 represent 73.8% of the total arrivals in tourist accommodations. Compared to December 2009, arrivals in hotels increased by 9.4%. Among EU member states, most tourists arrived from Hungary, 39.3%, Bulgaria 20.6%, Italy 9%, Germany 8.7%, Austria 4.2% and Poland 3.2%. (ActMedia, 22 February 2011)

Romania May Rethink Entire Energy Strategy Romanian government pledged to search an alternative strategy to overhaul its energy system if its current plans to set up two national champions fail to produce the desired results by year-end, according to the country’s draft letter of intent agreed with the International Monetary Fund.

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Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ______

"If the national champion strategy is not successful by end-2011, we will look for an alternative solution, including selling the majority stakes in some of the energy companies," the government said in the draft letter. Meanwhile, the authorities will move ahead to prepare the sales of minority or strategic stakes in individual companies slated to the part of the two energy champions, the document noted. Early 2010, the Romanian authorities approved an overhaul of the country's energy sector by setting up the two national power holdings to include almost all state-owned assets in the field.However, the strategy failed to materialized so far, mostly due to a series of litigations launched by several companies involved in the process. The first energy champion, Electra, was to include some of Romania's largest thermal power plants, the two operational reactors at the country's sole nuclear power plant in Cernavoda, the brown coal company SNLO, and a few hydropower plants. The second national power holding, Hidroenergetica, would have comprised most of the hydropower plants, the pitcoal company CNH, and a series of other thermal power plants. (ActMedia, 17 February 2011)

Record 100-million-euro bio product exports for Romania in 2010 Nuremberg, Feb 17 /Agerpres/ - Romania has posted record exports of bio products in 2010 of 100 million euros, Chairman of the Bio-Romania Association Marian Cioceanu said at BioFach 2011, the world's largest organic trade fair. "The exports of bio products reached 100 million euros in 2010, according to first estimates, which is a record level compared with the year before, with oil seeds, honey, fruits and vegetables being the heaviest exported, particularly as raw materials, and some processed products," said Cioceanu. He mentioned that the increase in such exports, after a drop by 20 percent in 2009, was the result of public subsidies having been earmarked for producers of bio products, which boosted the areas under such crops and the number of producers. "Consumption of ecologically certified products reached only 1 percent of total consumption in Romania, but most of such products came from abroad because Romania is still an export market for such products as raw materials and not as processed products," Cioceanu explained. He said that a solution to boost the development of the local market for bio products would be higher per hectare subsidies and aids for the time cropland is conversed from traditional farming to free-range farming. There are currently more than 4,500 operators on Romania's market for bio products, which is valued at 10 million euros, that practice free-range agriculture, up from 2,900 in 2009, while land under bio crops increased from 240,000 hectares in 2009 to 260,000 hectares in 2010. Germany is one of the most important destinations for Romanian exports of organic products. The Netherlands, Denmark, Italy and the UK are also important destinations. Data with Bio-Romania indicate the highest in demand on the domestic market are cheeses, eggs, cereals and breads, while oil seeds, cereals, proteins and processed products including cheese, honey, edible bio oil and wine are highest in demand for exportation. Romania is displaying at its own stand, February 16-19, in BioFach 2011, the world's largest trade fair or organic products, in Nuremberg, Germany. This is the 5th participation of Romania, which is justified by the country being among the world's top 20 exporters of ecologically certified agricultural produce.

E.ON Energy Romania - integrated natural gas and electricity supplier E.ON Gas Romania and E.ON Moldova merged and became E.ON Energy Romania, an integrated energy services supplier, and it is to provide natural gas to 1.5 million consumers and electricity to 1.4 users in northern Romania, informs the release that E.ON Energy Romania PR Department sent to Agerpres. A member of the German E.ON Grop, E.ON Energy Romania, the new energy

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Embassy of Romania in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ______distributor on the Romanian market became available two years after the project had been promoted, and its shareholders are E.ON Romania SRL - 51 percent, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business Environment - 31.82 percent, Electrica S.A.- 3.78 percent and Proprietatea Fund SA - 13.40 percent. E.ON Energy Romania currently numbers 590 employees. According to the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) data of Nov 2010. the natural gas market quotas stand at 43.24 percent, on the regulated market and at 4.72 percent on the free market, whereas the electricity quotas stand for 13 percent on the regulated market and for 3 percent, on the free one. 'The merger's benefits consist in a better position compared to the competitors' and the creation of the required circumstances for developing the business, improving the services' quality, the development of new products to meet the clients' demand, the employment of joint sale staff, and the centralization of the sale management,' E.ON Romania general manager Frank Hajdinjak said. E.ON Energy Romania will focus on being recognized as a competitive and reliable energy solutions supplier, even beyond its traditional activity fields, and one of the main challenges is the difficult situation in the natural gas supply, as the purchase price is not covered through the final regulated price for the captive consumers, the release reads on. Thus, E.ON data say that the uncovered costs exceeded 400 million lei in Romania, during 2009 and 2010, and according to prognoses the situation will continue in the first quarter of 2011 as well, when new costs amounting to over 240 million lei are expected to accumulate. 'The current situation must be urgently revised, because it is neither sustainable nor acceptable that E.ON Romania natural gas supply should continue seeing losses,' Hajdinjak added. (ActMedia, 17 February 2011)

Maritime cooperation protocol between Romania and Turkey The bilateral cooperation between Romania and Turkey can be reinforced by the cooperation protocol between the National Company of Administration of Maritime Ports in Constanta (south-eastern Romania) and the Ro-Ro Pendik Port in Turkey, Minister of Transports and Infrastructure said on 17 February. 'Signing this protocol paves the way for carrying passengers and merchandise between Romania and Turkey. The incentives made available by both parties lead to the increase in the sea transit. Therefore, thanks to this protocol signed in Bucharest, a major company ranking seven in the world and four in the Black Sea region will operate passenger lines between the two ports. The Turkish ports will be a major starting point for the Romanian merchandise towards the Mediterranean Sea,' Anca Boagiu added. According to Minister of Transports and Communications in the Republic of Turkey Binali Yilirim, the field of transports may be the most important in developing the economic cooperation between Romania and Turkey. 'Developing the bilateral trade but mainly that between Asia and Europe is the major protocol target. Our task is to open the door for investors and operators in the maritime sector. Both Turkey and Romania understood that they had to increase investments in transports during the crisis,' Binali Yildiram said. Romania has currently signed similar cooperation protocols with Spain, Kazakhstan, Slovenia. The Ministry is in talks with Rotterdam Port to sign a similar protocol. Thanks to the protocol with Constanta Port, the Turkish operators will make use of better connections of the lorries in transit towards European countries like Ukraine, Moldova or Poland. According to the protocol, both sides are to promote cooperation in areas such as merchandise transport, passenger transport, the experience exchange in the field of strategic planning of port development, the decrease in the time necessary for procedures and operations characteristic to each merchandise type. Setting the regular navigation lines between the two ports will be made by encouraging transport companies, ship owners and operators in both Romania and Turkey.

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According to both officials, the tax privileges ensuing this protocol will be decided upon in Ankara on March 7 and 8, 2011, in a bilateral economic forum. (ActMedia, 22 February 2011)

Romania and Turkey may cooperate in IT field Romania may cooperate with Turkey in the IT field, as Communications and Information Society Minister Valerian Vreme was invited to Turkey by his Turkish counterpart in order to discuss this matter, informs the Ministry of Communications and Information Society (MCSI). Minister Valerian Vreme suggested that this visit also had a component of cooperation between companies in the two countries, by organizing an economic Romanian-Turkish cooperation forum. Valerian Vreme on 17 February met Turkish Transports and Communications Minister Binali Yildirim, their main discussion topics being the implementation of the e-government services, the national electronic online tax payment system, the national electronic system, the electronic public procurement system, etc. The Romanian Minister discussed the MCSI mission with Minister Binali Yildirim, mentioning that it took into account a strategy in accordance with the EU 2020 Strategy and with the Digital Agenda. At the same time, he said that one of the MCSI projects would be that of broad band Internet cover of the disadvantaged areas in this respect. The Turkish Minister talked about the achievements Turkey had in the information society component, pointing out that he noticed Romania's major developments in the information technology field. (ActMedia, 22 February 2011)

Rockefeller Group plans to invest over 100 million euro in the real estate market in the region including Romania Europa Capital, member of the American Rockefeller Group plans to invest over 100 million euro in the real estate sector in the region, including Romania, Novinite reports. The private equity fund, targeting mostly the real estate market, already purchased a commercial park at Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city for 20 million euro. The company showed its interest for the region as early as 2007 but the crisis determined them to postpone their plans. Europa Capital is a private equity fund manager that administrates actives worth over 2 billion euro. (ActMedia, 18 February 2011)

Economy Ministry: Romania Government to privatize Oltchim next year The Romanian Government has initiated procedures for the privatization of Oltcim SA Ramnicu Valcea chemical company, the Economy Ministry announced on 22 February 2011. It showed that according to a draft letter of intention agreed by the Romanian Government with the IMF, World Bank and the European Commission, the Oltchim privatization is due to be launched in the first half of 2012. Romanian authorities will acquire consultancy services for the process this year. By August, the government will employ an internationally recognized consultant to prepare the privatization, while the bidding for the sale will take place by mid 2012. The Romanian state, through the Economy Ministry, controls 54.79% of the Oltchim chemical plant. The company debt amounted to 2.289 billion lei by the end of 2010. (ActMedia, 23 February 2011)

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• Culture and Education Service of installation for the Vice-Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University Embassy of Romania – London / On February 25, 2001, the Ambassador of Romania, Dr Ion Jinga, was present at the service of installation for the Vice-Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University, Professor Robin Baker, CMG. The event took place at Canterbury Cathedral, Mother Church of the Anglican Communion and seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England, part of a World Heritage Site since 1988. The service was officiated by the Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University, Dr Rowan Douglas Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England, fellow of the British Academy. There were present at the ceremony clergymen, the leadership of the university and members of its senior management, local authorities representatives and members of the diplomatic corps. Professor Robin Baker is an authority on East European history, ethnic minorities and languages. He spent 21 years in the British Council (in his final post in the British Council was Deputy Director-General), serving in London, South Africa, Hungary, Greece and Russia where he was Cultural Attaché at the British Embassy in Moscow. He visited Romania several times and has a good knowledge of Romanian language. The Ambassador had talks with the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, with the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Councillor Pat Todd, members of the leadership of the university and with Professor Baker who renewed the invitation to the Ambassador to address the students of Canterbury Christ Church University . This is the fourth visit of the Ambassador of Romania in Canterbury, the other three taking place in October 2008 (visit to Christ Church University), March 2009 (visit to the Kent University) and November 2009 (meetings with the Lord Mayor and the senior management of the Christ Church University who hosted a reception in His Excellency’s honour who delivered a speech on the European Union). Canterbury Christ Church University is the largest centre of higher education in Kent for the public services and a significant provider of programmes in a wide range of academic and professional areas: business management, marketing, arts and film production. Among its student population of around 16,000 of which 1,235 non-UK, 250 are Romanians.

Politics of Memory in Post-Communist Europe Embassy of Romania – London / On February 25, 2001, the Ambassador of Romania, Dr Ion Jinga, took part at the Conference dedicated to the first issue of the yearbook History of Communism in Europe . The event was organised by the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and for the Memory of Romanian Exile, UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies, with the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute in London .The yearbook History of Communism in Europe is an interdisciplinary forum that explores multifaceted history of the communist regimes in Eastern Europe .

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Guest speakers of the event were Romanian and British academics and researchers: Prof Dennis Deletant - Professor of Romanian Studies, UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies; Dr Mihail Neamtu - Scientific Director, the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and for the Memory of Romanian Exile; Bogdan Iacob - Secretary of the Scientific Council, the Institute for the Invesigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of Romanian Exile; Corina Dobos - Expert, the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and the Memory of Romanian Exile; Marius Stan - Expert, the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes and for the Memory of Romanian Exile. The speakers took a look at the history and philosophical and ideological mutations of the Communist doctrinal monism, as well as will examines themes like memory, nostalgia and historical past of the former Soviet bloc - Romania, Hungary, former GDR, Poland, former Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, former USSR and former Yugoslavia. In the opening remarks, The Ambassador of Romania addressed those present: “We need to develop a culture of remembering, knowing and understanding of our recent history. In 2006, based on a detailed analysis made by the Presidential Commission for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in Romania which investigated the Communist regime, provided a comprehensive report allowing for the condemnation of Communism as illegitimate and criminal. History of communism has to have multidisciplinary approach, and the debates, this evening, can consider as a starting point.” There were present at the ceremony over 80 guests, professors, researchers, students, members of the diplomatic corps and public. The event concluded with a vin d’honneur offered by the hosts of the Conference.

Bestowal of the Order "Military Virtue" to Scottish fireman Embassy of Romania – London / On 17 February 2011, the Embassy of Romania in London organized a ceremony marking the bestowal, by the President of Romania Mr Traian Băsescu, of the Order "Military Virtue" in the rank of Knight to Mr. John Clenaghan, top Scottish fireman expert. The distinction was awarded in recognition of the role Mr. John Clenaghan played in the modernization of the Romanian Fire Service and of the Mobile Service for Emergencies, Resuscitations and Rescue, known throughout Romania under the more familiar acronym of “SMURD”. Reading the Decree signed by the President of Romania, Ambassador Ion Jinga highlighted the contribution that John Clenaghan, with his expertise as Head of the Strathclyde International Training Centre (Glasgow), had during the transition period of the early ‘90s in establishing a Road Rescue and Chemical Emergency Centre and in training the very first Romanian Road Rescue teams. He commended Mr Clenaghan for his efforts that resulted in the provisioning of a fully equipped Road Rescue Unit and Chemical Emergency Unit by the British Authorities.

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The ceremony took place in the presence of Dr Raed Arafat, the founder of SMURD and Undersecretary of State in the Romanian Ministry for Health, initiator of the proposal for this distinction. Dr. Arafat testified how the activity of Mr. Clenaghan alongside his Romanian colleagues had radically changed the way Romanian fire-fighters and rescue workers train and operate, infusing a spirit of modernity and a degree of professionalism that account for the high level of public confidence that SMURD enjoys today in Romania. The Order “Military Virtue” is the highest military award that Romania can bestow to a foreign national during peacetime. In its original form, the order dates back to 1872, when it was instituted by King Charles the First of Romania. Since its reinstitution in the year 2000, only 18 foreign nationals have been awarded this order in the rank of Knight.

Photography exhibition “From East to West: A Portrait of Romanian Diaspora” Embassy of Romania – London/ On February 16, 2011, took place the opening of the photography exhibition “From East to West: A Portrait of Romanian Diaspora” by Raul Stef, event organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute in London. Inspired by the large Romanian community living in the UK, former Attic Arts resident Raul Stef photographed over 20 Romanian born figures setting the economic and cultural agenda in London, capturing their journey from native Romania to the UK, as they walked on the road to success. Flashbacks of their past experiences and vivid portraits from today take the viewers to an exciting discovery of well-known people with surprising life stories. In the opening remarks, HE Dr Ion Jinga, the Ambassador of Romania in the United Kingdom, congratulated the artist for appraising the achievements of the Romanian Diaspora living in the United Kingdom. “There are many Romanians living in the United Kingdom who achieved excellence in their chosen fields. Between them are famous architects, artists, specialists in different domains of expertise as health care professionals, researchers, and a wave of young, enthusiastic graduates working in the City of London. My message for all is the next: each and every one of the Romanians living abroad is perceived as an Ambassador of his country. The present exhibition speaks about a community whose excellence is the key of success, about their professional leadership and artistic inspiration”. Dorian Branea, director of RCI – London, presented the concept behind the exhibition and extended the invitation to the Romanian artists to continue the idea of this exhibition by having a series of photography events dedicated to the Romanian Diaspora.

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Opening of Rita Horowitz water painting exhibition Embassy of Romania – London/ On March 1st, 2011, with the occasion of the Day of Mărţişor, in 1 Belgrave Square SW1X 8PH, the Embassy of Romania to London is opening the water colours painting exhibition “Primăvara – A Spring celebration” by Rita Horowitz.

Discovering the illusive beauty of water colour, Rita Horowitz became a follower of Stella Cardew, whose magical gift of imparting her skills is legendary. Rita’s water colours are included in private collections world wide, being exhibited at The World Trade Centre and at Patchings Arts Centre. Her painting “Granada” won a national prize for expressiveness. Other works include marine and portrait subjects.

The exhibition will be opened 1st - 15th of March 2011, and it can be viewed from Monday through Friday between 10am - 5pm.

The Annual meeting of the Romanian health care professionals working in the UK Embassy of Romania – London/ On 14 May 2011, the Embassy of Romania to London will host the Annual meeting of the Romanian health care professionals working in the United Kingdom, organised by the Romanian Medical Society in the UK (SMR-UK). The event will conclude with a private view of a painting exhibition featuring works made by the Romanian doctors living in the UK and their fellow colleagues from Romania.

The exhibition will be opened 14th – 21st of May 2011, and it can be viewed from Monday through Friday between 10am - 5pm.

Ion Grigorescu @ Tate Modern

The Romanian Cultural Institute brings the acclaimed artist Ion Grigorescu back to London for the first public presentation of his work in the UK, part of the group show Out of Place at Tate Modern. The exhibition in the Level 2 Gallery series features four artists from different backgrounds whose works focus on how political changes affect the lives of individuals. Ion Grigorescu (Romania), Cevdet Erek (Turkey), Hrair Sarkissian (Syria) and Ahlam Shibli (Palestine) expose the physical traces of historical shifts and political decisions. History marks the reality with monuments, the architecture of the new and the ruins of the old. Documenting memory-laden landscapes, new constructions, abandoned places and the voids left behind by migrants, the artists present a meaningful record of transformed reality and individual stories being lived within it.

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Ion Grigorescu (b.1945) has worked extensively with performance, which he documented through photos and 8mm films (most of them in black and white). After 1990 the artist staged a spectacular comeback with a series of personal exhibitions and happenings in Bucharest, Venice, Vienna and Amsterdam. His body-focused work from the 1970s has been rediscovered and Grigorescu is now unanimously acknowledged as a highly relevant contemporary artist. When: Until 15 April 2011. Open: Sunday - Thursday, 10am - 6pm Where: Level 2 Gallery, Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG. Free admission.

GAZES AND FACES: ROMANIAN PORTRAITS by Adrian Cherciu Until Friday 18 March 2011 The Ratiu Foundation/ Romanian Cultural Centre Manchester Square, 18 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H 6EQ; Tel. 020 7486 0295 ext. 108 Opening times: Mon – Fri 12.00 – 18.00. Admission free (booking essential, by phone or e-mail at [email protected]) For one week in October 2010, Adrian Cherciu, a keen photographer and founder of the Romanian community portal ROMANi ONLiNE, has wandered across Romania with English photographer Mike Sweeney in tow, in search for the “ineffable Romanian spirit”. They have found some of that spirit distilled in more than one location along the more than 1,700 kilometres route through the country, but the real essence of the places could be best read in the faces of the people they encountered. The Ratiu Foundation / Romanian Cultural Centre is happy to present a special selection of portraits to give you a flavour of the trip, but also to offer a glance at the people (and in one instance, a horse) who go about their daily lives without making the news, trying to make the best of the times of crisis we are all living through. Woodcutters, monks, a forester, a souvenir seller, an old lady knitting woollen socks to make ends meet – they are all part of the cast of characters. An unskilled camera will reflect the reality in front of its lenses in a cold light. However, in these pictures, the photographer shows a high degree of empathy with his subjects, managing to imbue each image with a spark of the life force of those portrayed. To be sure, the characters are all representatives of a rural way of living, but this is not a romanticised look at life in the country. This collection may well become sooner rather than later an archive of typologies and occupations that one day will disappear for good, even from Romania. The larger series of images collected during this trip was taken in locations as diverse as the big cities of Bucharest, Iasi or Brasov, and the picturesque small towns and villages of Voronet, Putna, Moeciu, Bicaz. Meaning to see not just the touristic part of the country, the two photographers have visited, besides the well known painted monasteries of Northern Moldavia or the natural reservations of Vrancea County, some of the lesser known places such as the disaffected Tarnita industrial ruins or the trout farm of Cheita. The trip would have been impossible without the assistance of guide and driver Mugurel Costache, who showed the photographers unknown spots of natural beauty and places of pure wonder. Organised by the Ratiu Foundation / Romanian Cultural Centre and ROMANi ONLiNE, with the support of Albinuta.co.uk

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Culture Power/ Culture, Modernity and Extremism The Criterion Association of Interwar Bucharest (1932 - 35) by Dr Cristina Adriana Bejan, Ion Ratiu Post-Doctoral Fellow in Romanian Studies, Georgetown University Monday 7 March 2011, 19.00-21.00, at The Ratiu Foundation / Romanian Cultural Centre, Manchester Square, 18 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H 6EQ; Tel. 020 7486 0295, ext 108; e-mail: [email protected] Hosted by Dr Mike Phillips OBE, British novelist, historian and curator. Followed by a Q&A session

Sighisoara reaches final stage of Europe Prize Sighisoara (central Romania) was selected for the final stage of the Europe Prize, the highest distinction awarded by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, according to a letter sent to the municipality by the chairman of the Europe Prize section on the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs of the Council of Europe. The press office of the Sighisoara City Hall informed on February 15, in a press release, that the mayor of the five nominated places, among whom Mayor of Sighisoara Ioan Dorin Danesan too, were invited to Strasbourg to attend the parliamentary session on April 11-15. 'The decision on the winner of the Europe Prize for 2011 will be made after the members of the committee watch the films presenting the finalist cities. Mr Ioan Dorin Danesan is confident in the fact that the image Sighisoara has abroad as well as the European friends with whom we have carried out joint projects in years will be, besides the concrete achievements presented in the documentation, as many advantages in winning this prize, the only we do not have,' said spokesperson of the Sighisoara City Hall Anca Maria Ratiu. According to her, Sighisoara is winner of the European Diploma in 1995, of the Flag of Honour in 1998 and of the Plaque of Honour in 2003, distinctions awarded by the Council of Europe as a sign of appreciation for the activity carried out by the community in the spirit of the ideas of Europeanism. Moreover the scientific committee in Lugano designated the mediaeval city of Sighisoara, as the 'Medieval jewel of Romania' in the Swiss Tourism Awards in 2009. (ActMedia, 17 February 2011).

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